NEW BACKFILL REGULATIONS MADE PERMANENT!

The State Resources Board website will have updated material

with the final language in the next couple weeks

http://www.consrv.ca.gov/SMGB/index.htm

April 10, 2003

  In Sacramento this morning the State Mining and Geology Board made its temporary "complete  backfill" regulations permanent.  At the recommendation of staff and with a personal boost from the testimony of Mary Nichols, the state's Resources Department Secretary, the new regulations were passed unanimously.

  Just prior to the passage the Board voted to extend for 120 more days the current temporary backfill regulations since it takes at least 30 days for a new regulation to take effect.

  Christie Whiteside of Great Basin Mine Watch, Courtney Coyle attorney for the Quechan tribe, and Bob Ellis also supported passage. The California Mining Association opposed.

  Reporters for NPR and AP were there and perhaps other media as well. They were interested in the story from a national perspective. California leads the way in mining reclamation versus the Bush administration's corporate bias.

  I think that thank you emails should go to Mary Nichols, Secretary of the Resources Agency ,care of her assistant : Cyndy.Paulsen@resources.ca.gov as well as the governor.

 Bob Ellis

  

California State Mining and Geology Board Meeting 4/11/03

Associated Press Write-up

Pictures and Captions taken from Yahoo News Photos site 4/11/03
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The Castle Mountain open-pit mine near Ivanpah, Calif., is shown in this aerial photo, date unknown. On Thursday, April 10, 2003, California adopted the nation's toughest restrictions on open-pit metallic mining, a move that could thwart Bush administration attempts to expand mining and would virtually eliminate metal mining in the Gold Rush state. The proposed regulations would require mining companies to refill all new open-pit metal mines, and provide financial guarantees so taxpayers wouldn't be stuck in the event the company defaults. (AP Photo/California Mining and Geology Board, File)

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Ellis, right, of the Desert Survivors, a non-profit conservation group, waits to testify in support of a proposed regulation that would impose restrictions on open-pit gold mining, during a hearing of the California State Mining and Geology Board in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 10, 2003. The board adopted the proposals that will require mining companies to refill all new-open-pit metal mines and provide financial guarantees so taxpayers wouldn't be stuck with the clean-up costs in the event the company defaults. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

 

 

 

 

 

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